Electric starter for internal-combustion engines.



W. H. SCOTT.

ELECTRIC STARTER EoR INTERNAL GoMBUsTIoN ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9, 1913.

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ELECTRIC, STARTER FOR UWBRNAL GOMBUSTIOM APPLICAIUN NLED MAY U, i013.

MHH-arnaud W. H. SCOTT.

ELECTRIC STARTER EOE INTERNAL GOMEUSTION ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED MAY1913.

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ELECTRIC STARTER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9, 1913.

1, 1 04,7 I O. Patented July 21, 1914.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM. HARDNG SCOTT, OFYNORWICH, ENGLAND.

ELECTRIC STARTER FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, VILLIAM HARDING SCOTT, asubject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Gothic Vilorks,Norwich, in the county of Norfolk, England, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Electric Starters for Internal-Combustion Engines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The objectof this invention is to provide improved means for startinginternal combastion engines (more especially those of motor cars, or thelike) by means of a dyna- 1no-electric machine which, when the engine isWorking normally, is driven by the engine for generating electricity tobe stored and used, as required, for lighting, or other purposes, thesaid means being of the kind in which an epicyclic gear is employed totransmit rotary motion at the requisite speed from the dynamo-electricmachine sha-tt to the engine shaft to start the engine and when the saidengine is properly started to transmit rotary motion at the requisitespeed from the engine shaft to the dynamo-electric machine shaft, thesaid epicyclic gear having two clutches, one for preventing the rotationof the gearing in a backward direction and one for preventing therotation of the sun wheel of the said gear when the dynamo-electricmachine is starting the engine.

According to my invention l employ an arrangement of gear as hereinafterdescribed fory transmitting rotary motion, at the requisite speed, fromthe dynamo electric machine shaft to the engine sha-tt to start theengine, and, when the said engine is properly started for transmittingrotary motion at the requisite speed from the engine itseltI to thedynamo electric machine shaft, the said gear comprising an improvedepicyclic arrangement having combined therewith two clutches one ofwhich is ar-I ranged between the dynamo electric machine shaft. and thecentral, or sun wheel, of the epicyclic gear and adapted to tree thesaid central, or sun Wheel, trom the dynamo electric machine shaft whenthe dynamo electric machine is starting the engine and to clutch thesaid central, or sun wheel, to the dynamo electric machine shaft whenthe dynamo electric machine is operated as a generator. The other ot thesaid clutches is arranged between the housing, or dish, carrying theplanet wheels of the epi- Specication of Letters yatent.

Application filed May 9, 1913.

Patented July 21, 1914.

Serial No. 766,602.

cyclic gear and a yielding braking device and adapted to clutch the saidhousing, or disk, to the braking device when the engine is being startedand to free the said housing, or disk, from the braking device when theengine is properly running the yielding braking device being so adaptedthat the speed at which the engine shaft is caused to rotate to startthe engine can be controlled thereby and should back-lire occur the saidbrake is caused to be released and the epicyclic gear to be inoperative.

l will now particularly describe my invention with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 shows in elevation, with partsin section, a dynamo-electric machine provided with transmitting gearand means for controlling it in accordance with my invention. Figs. 2, 3and 4 are transverse sections taken respectively on the lines A A, B B,and C C, Fig. l. Figs. 5 and 6 show in transverse section, in differentpositions, a modification of the braking device shown in Figs. l and ft.Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the electrical connections between 'theaccumulator cells and the dynamo-electric machine and the controllingswitches therefor.

The dynamo-electric machine l has combined therewith epicyclic gear soarranged that for the purpose of starting the engine rotary motion istransmitted from the shaft- 2 of the said dynamo-electric machine to theengine shaft 30 at a properly reduced speed but as soon as the engineres, however, it drives the dynamo-electric machine direct as agenerator at the engine speed, or at other desired speed.

The arrangement ot epicyclic gear employed comprises a central, or sun,wheel 3, mounted on the dynamo-electric machine shaft 2, and planetwheels l which gear with the said central, or sun wheel 3, the saidplanet wheels 4 being rotatably mounted on spindles 5 xed in a housing,or disk 6, rotatably mounted on the dynamo-electric machine shaft 2.Formed in one with, or tiered to. the planet wheels t are larger planetwheels 7 which gear with a pinion C secured to, or formed on` the saidshaft 2. Between the central, or sun, wheel 3 and a disk 9, secured tothe shaft 2, is a clutching device which in accordance with thedirection of rotation oit the said parts either clutches. the saidcentral, or sun, wheel to, or treesit trom, the sai;l shaft Any suitableclutching devices may be employed, such for instance as those commonlyknown as free -wheel clutches. The one illustrated consists of pawls 10hinged to the disk 9 and at the proper time caused by springs 11, toengage with ratchet shaped recesses 12 formed in the central, or Sun,wheel 3. Formed' in one with, or fixed to, the central, or sun, wheel 3,is a sprocket wheel 13, and a sprocket wheel l-i is secured to theengine shaft 30, a chain 15 transmitting rotary motion from one sprocketwheel to the other.

I arrange the housing, or disk, 6, so that it is free to rotate in thedirection in which the engine runs, that is, clockwise as viewed in Fig. 11, but iss-checked, Acrean be checked in the opposite direction,that is counterclockwise in the arrangement illustrated. The housing, ordisk 6, being prevented from rotating in the direction 'pposite to thatof the dynamo-electric machine-the said dynamo electric machine will,for starting the engine, drive through the epicyclic gear until theengine tires and starts.

IN hen the dynamoelectric machine is starting the engine the central, orsun, wheel 3, is free but when the engine is started and runnino'normally the said central, or sun, wheel 1s clutched to the disk 9 andthe engine drives, at the requisite speed, the dynamo-electric machineas a generator, the whole of the epicyclie being then locked and thehousing, or disk, 6, being free in this direction, also rotates in thesame direction.

In cas'e of back-fire in the engine there is a tendency to drive thehousing, or disk 6, in the same direction as that for starting theengine that is, counter-clockwise as viewed in Fig. 4t and, to preventdamave being done I provide a braking device which, by yieldingpressure, (such as by` a spring, or by the foot, or hand), prevents, orretards, the rotation of the housing, or disk 6, when the engine isstarted but is arranged so that while the force exerted for starting iseasily resisted, yet on back-fire occurring the resistance is overcomeand breakage prevented. 'llhis can be effected, as shown in Figs. 1 andL1- by a ring 16 mounted on the periphery of, and Capable of clutchingwith, the housing, or disk 6, and I provide this ring with a band 20 orother suitable brake of a type in which the resistance to braking tendsto throw the brake oit. For starting the engine, the brake is held on bya spring, or by foot, or hand, pressure, or any suit-- able means whichwill hold against the starting effect but not 'against back-fire. Bythis band, or equivalent, brake arrangement, the speed of the housino',or disk 6. can be gradually -cheel-:ed and t ie power of thedynamoelectric machine be gradualiy applied for cthe engine while thesaid housing. or disk, is free to rotate in the direction of the engine,that is clockwise in the arrangement illustrated. Any suitable means maybe employed which will clutch the housing, or disk 6, to the ring 16when rotating in one direction and be free when rotating -in ltheopposite direction, such for example as what are known as free-wheelarrangements, In the drawings, pawls 17 are shown hinged to, orotherwise carried by, the said' housing, or disk, which are caused, bysprings 19, to enter ratchet shaped recesses 18 formed in the said ring16. The band 20 is shown in the said Fig. t encircling the greater partof the said ring 16 and it has one end connected to the gear casing andthe other end connected to a lever 21 secured to a rockingl shaft 22mounted in bearings on the said gear easing, the said rocking shafthaving secured thereto a lever which is connected by a flexibleconnection, such for instance as a cord`24, to a handle 25, situated onthe dashboard of the car, or in other position easily accessible formanipulation by the driver, so that by pulling the said handle, the band20 can be applied to the ring 16 with any desired degree of brakingpressure. Any forcible tendency for the housing, or disk 6, to rotate inthe wrong direction, that is, counterclockwise, which would occur uponthe engine back-firing, causes the ring 16 to ease off the said brakeowing to the pull in this direction acting against and overcoming, orpartially overcoming, the yielding pressure of the hand or foot, orspring, which held the band 2() onto the said ring 16.

As regards the generation, storing and utilization, of electricity I mayemploy, for example, twelve accumulator cells which-are all put inseries for driving the dynamoelectric machine for starting the engineand which are put in three groups in parallel when the said motor isrunning as a generator, and I may employ a switch which is normally heldin such position that the said cells are put in groups in parallel asaforesaid but which can be removed, for example by the handle 25, inopposition to the action of a spring, into a 'position whereby they areall put in series, and I also prefer to arrange the switch so that thesaid handle 25 can be pulled to apply the band-brake 20 only when thesaid switch is in the series position. It is preferred, however, toarrange the accumulator cells in two batteries, each battery beingcharged at a time and to arrange switch-gear so that, although forstarting the eng-ine by the dynamo-electric machine all the cells areused, for generating one battery of cells is iirst charged and then theother battery, the lighting, or the like, being obtained from thebattery which ia not being charged.

The operation of the parts for starting the engine from thedynamo-electric machine vto rotate in a.. clockwise direction.

inoamo,

1, and after the engine has been started, to drive the saiddynamo-electric machine so that it operates as a genera-tenis as followsThe handle 25 is turned in the proper direction to put the accumulatorcells in series and to complete the electric circuits Whereby the motor1 and its shaft 2, are caused rlhe rotation of the moto-r shaft 2 tends,by its pinion 8, to rotate the planet wheels 7 and l but their housingor disk 6, being,y at this time', free to" rotate and the central, orsun, Wheel 3, offering resistance to rotation the said planet wheels 4eand 7 are caused to revolve around the central, or sun, wheel 3,

and! the pinion- 8, respectively, and the ho-using, or disk, to rotateon the shaft 2, all in a countersclockwise direction. motor and theepicyclic train now running freely', that is, With no load, the handle25 is pulled in the direction to apply the bandbrake 20 gradually to thering 16 whereupon the rotation of the housing or disk 6, is retarded, orpreventedaccording to the degree vor pressure applied, so that thecentral, or

sun', Wheel 8, now offers less resistance to rotation than the housing,or disk 6, and 1s rotated by the planet Wheels 4 in the same directionas the dynamo-electric machine sha-ft, that is, in a clockwise directionwhich rotation is transmitted, by the sprocket wheel-S13I and 14 andchain 15, to the driving shaft 80, of the engine which is therebystarted. The diameters of the Wheels ot the epicyclic train, the pinion,and the sprocket Wheels are such that when the rotation of the housing,or disk 6, is entirely prevented by the band-brake 20 the engine shaft30 is rotated by the dynamo-electric mach-ine at a speed considerablyless than that of the dynamo-electric machine shaft 2, and in accordanceWith the amount of rotation of the'housing, or disk 6, which may bepermitted by the band-brake 20, the speed of rotation of the said engineshaft will be proportionately further reduced. The engine after beingstarted by the dynamo-electric machine tires, and then runs at a higherspeed than the dynamo-electric machine and, by the sprocket Wheels 14and 13 and chain 15 transmits motion to the central, or

sun, Wheel 3 which then clutches with. the

engine, but being'of different diameters tend to rotate their respectiveengaging planet Wheels at proportionately different speeds Which causesthe said Wheels to be locked so that. the Whole epicyclic train and theThe electric housing, or disk', rotate With the dynamoelectric machineshaft, the clutch device on the said housing, or disk, permitting, asbefore mentioned, the rotation of the housing, or disk, in the samedirection as the dynamo-electric machine shaft. The speed at which thedynamo-electric machine now runs is the proper speed tor generatingelectricity.

I do not limit myself to the precise details of construction andarrangements hereinbefore described With reference to theaccompanyingdrawings as-they may be modified Without departing from thenature of my invention, for instance, instead 'f employing thearrangement hereinbefore described and illustrated for preventing therotation of the housing, or disk 6, in a counter-clockwise directionunder normal conditions for starting the engine, but which Will permitof the rotation of the said housing, or disk, in the saidcounter-clockwise direction upon the engine back-firing, the arrangementshown in Figs. and 6 of the accompanying drawings may be employed. Inthis arrangement the housing, or disk, 6, is, under normalengine-starting conditions, prevented from rotating in acounter-clockwise direction by a pavvl 27 engaging ratchet teeth formedon the periphery of the said housing, or disk. The paWl 27 is suitablymounted between a pair of arms (only one, 28, of which is shown in thesaid Figs. 5 and 6) pivoted, at one end, to the gear casing the otherend of the said arms being forced down by a spring 29 onto a stop 31.This spring 29 is of such strength that the ordinary thrust on the pawl27 that occurs when starting the engine does not aii'ect the parts, butwhen a severe thrust caused b backfire occurs the ratchet tooth withwhich the paWl 27 engages acts to turn the paWl out of engagementtherewith so that the said housing, or disk, is freed. To permit of thisturning movement of the pawl 27 the free end ot' the arms 28 is raisedin opposition, to the spring` 29, which is edected by the ratchet tooththrough the pawl. lVhen the paWl has turned past its dead center thearms 28 return by the action of the spring 29, and again bear upon thestop 31.

l@ ig. 6 shows, in full lines, the pawl 27 partly turned and the arm 28,raised, and, in dot and dash lines, the said paWl completely turned andthe said arm returned and again bearing upon its stop 31. ln order thatthe pawl 27 may again be brought into engagement withthe ratchet teeththe arms 28 are raised by the driver, a handle 32, connected to the freeend of the arms being provided for this purpose, whereupon the paWl,under the action ot' a comparatively Weak spring 33, returns to itsnormal position. Under ordinary running conditions the spring 33normally holds the pawl 27 against stops 34 (one on the inner side ofeach of the arms 28) and out of engagement' with the ratchet teeth. Thepawl is pushed into engagement with one of the ratchet teeth whenstarting the engine by a rod, or bar, 39, the lower end passing betweenthe stops 34 and the upper end projecting through the gear casing andprovided with a head 35 upon which one arm 36 of a bellcrank leverbears, the other arm 37 of which is connected, by a flexible connection,24, to an operating handle, such for example as that, 25, shown in Fig.1, so that upon the handle being pulled by the driver, the said rod, orbar, 39, descends, in opposition to the action Aof a spring 38, and itslower end pushes the pawl intggengagement with one of the ratchet teethas aforesaid. Upon the release of the operating handle the rod, or bar,39, under the action of its spring, 38, ascends and permits the pawl 27,under the action ot its spring 33, to disengage from the said ratchetteeth and bear upon the stops 34 on the arms 28.

l? ig. 7 of the accompanying drawings illustrates diagrammatically thepreferred arrangement of accumulator cells in two batterieshereinbefeore referred to, and their connections and' controlling`switch-gear. rlhe dynamo-electric machine 1 is differentially wound forgenerating with both series and shunt windings, the series winding 40being arranged and proportioned so that it opposes the shunt winding 41when generating. rl`he batteries 42 and 43 of accunnzlator cells areconnected in series when the electric motor 1 is starting the engine,and when desired a part of the series winding 4() can be cut out orshort-circnited by a starting switch 44 as hereinafter described. 1place the lamps 45 on either one or other of. the two batteries 42 or 43and connect the dynamo-electric Iaeliine, for generating, onto the otherbattery,

r so that the lamps 45 are always lighted by the battery that is notbeing charged and so are not liable to be overrun during the charging ofthe other battery. This is eft'ccted by means of a switch comprisingthree arms 46, 47, and 48, connected by a link 61, the arms 46 and 47being in electrical connection at their pivoted ends with thedynamo-electric machine 1, as shown, and the arin 48 being similarlyconnected, through the lamps 45, to a common main 49 ot' the batteries42 and 43. Then the operating handle 50 on the arm 46 is moved to theleft electrical connection is made between the dynamo-electric machine 1and the battery 42 by the arms 46 and 47 engaging with contact pieces 51and 52 respectively, the contact piece 52 being connected to the commonmain 49 of the batteries, and when the said handle 50 is moved to theright elec trical connectionis made between thee-.aid dyi namo-electricmachine and the battery 43, by the arms 46 and 47, engaging with theaforesaid contact piece 52 and a contact piece respectively, as shown indot and dash lines. 1n either of these positions the shunt winding 41 isin electrical connection with one, or the other, of the batteries by thearm 47 engaging with one, or the other, of two contact pieces 54, or 55,and both of these extreme right and left positions are generatingpositions.

In moving the switch arms 46 and 47 from right to left, or from left toright, as aforesaid, the lamp switch arm 48 is also moved and electricalconnection is made with either the battery 42, or the battery 43, by thesaid arm engaging either with the aforesaid contact piece 53 or with aContact piece 56 to which the outer mains 57 and 58 of the batteries 42and 43 are respectively connected. The ends of the switch arms 46 and 47when in their central position, as shown in the diagram, engage withcontact pieces 59 and 60, respectively, the contact piece 59 beingconnected, by a metallic piece 151, the outer main 57 of the battery 42and the contact piece 60 being through the starting switch 44, connectedto .the outer main 58 of the battery 43 so that the whole of theaccumulator cells of the two batteries are electrically connected withthe dynamo-electric machine in readiness for starting the engine whichis effected when the starting switch 44 is closed. When the arm 47 is inthe atore- '50 from either of the generating positions to the centralposition the lamp switch arm 48, owing to a slot 62 provided in the link61, will remain stationary, but on moving the said handle 50 right overfrom one generating position to the other generating position, the saidarm 48 will be moved over onto one, or other, of the contact pieces 53or 56, and the lamps 45 will be electrically connected to either of thebatteries which at the time is not being charged. As in some cases theseries winding for generating has to have more coils than are requiredwhen the electric motor is starting the engine means may be providedwhereby some of these coils can be short-circuited by the startingswitch 44, such, for instance, as contact pieces'63 and 64 which can beelectrically connected by a suitable piece 65 on the end of the saidswitch 44. 1n the diagram the lamp fuses are indicated at 66 and thelamp switches are indicated at 67,.

The starting switch 44 is operated from the dash-board preferably by acord 68, or the like, and the said switch has also connected thereto oneend of the cord, or the like, 24, the other` end ot' which is connectedto the arm 37 of the bell-crank lever opermeagre ating the pawl 27hereinbefore described with reference to Figs and 6 of the accompanyingdrawings, but it will be readily understood that the s aidswitch couldbe similarly connected to the operating lever 23 of the braking devicehereinbefore described with reference to Figs. l and 4 of theaccompanying drawings.

What I claim s- 1. The combination with an internal combustion engine adynamo-electric machine driven by the said engine for generatingelectricity, and cpicyclic gearing adapted to transmit motion from thedynamo-electric machine to the internal combustion engine vto start thesaid engine and also adapted when the engine is running, to allow theeneine to drive the electric motor at the proper speed. for generating;of clutches one of which is arranged between the dynainoelectric machineshaft and the central, or sun, wheel of the epi/cyclic gearing adaptedto free the said central, or sun, wheel from the dynamo-electric machineshaft when the said machinel operates to rotate the engine shaft and toclutch the said central, or sun, wheel to the dynamo-electric machineshaft when the said machine is operating as a generator, a support,carrying the planet wheels of the epicyclicgearing, a yielding brakingdevice actingconjointly with the other of the said clutches to clutchsaid support thereto when the engine is being started and adapted tofree the said planet Wheel support from the braking device when theengine is properly running, substantially as hereinbefore explained. n

2. The combination with an internal combustion engine a dynamo-electricmachine driven by the said engine for generating electricity, andepicyclic gearing adapted to transmitA motion from the dynamo-electricmachine to the internal combustion engine to start thesaid engine andalso adapted when the engine is running, to allow the engine to drivethe electric motor at the proper speed for generating; of clutches oneof which is arranged between the dynamo-electric machine shaft and thecentral, 0r sun,

wheel of the epicycli'c gearing adapted to free the said central, orsun, wheel from the dynamo-electric machine Ashaft when the Said machineoperates to rotate the engine shaft .and to clutch the said central, or.Sun, wheel to the dynamofelectric machlne shaft when the said machine isoperating as a gen` erator, a support carrying the planet wheels of theepicyclic gearing, a yielding braking VV`lever acting conj'ointly withthe other of said clutches -to clutch said support thereto when theengine is being started and adapt ed to free the said planet wheelsupport, from the braking device when the engine is properly running,together with means in connection with the said braking device tocontrol the speed at which rotary motion is transmitted from thedynamo-electric machine shaft to the engine shaft and on back lire torelease said brake whereby the support for the planet wheels of theepicyclic gearing is freed and the said epicyclic gearing renderedinoperative; substantially as hereinbefore described.

3. The combination with an internal combustion engine a dynamo-electricmachine driven by the said engine for generating electricity, andepicyclic gearing adapted to transmit motion from the dynamo-electricmachine to the internal combustion engine to start the said engine andalso adapted when the engine is running, to allow the engine to drivethe electric motor at the proper speed for generating; of clutches oneof which is arranged between the dynamo-elec tric machine shaft and thecentral, or sun, wheel of the epicyclic gearing adapted to free the saidcentral, or sun, wheel from the dynamo-electric machine shaft when thesaid machine operates to rotate the engine shaft and to clutch the saidcentral, or sun, wheel to the dynamo-electric machine shaft when thesaid machine is operating as a generator, a support having ratchet teethand carrying the planet wheels of the epicyclic gearing, a yieldingbraking device acting conjointly with the other of the said clutches toclutch said support thereto when the engine is being started and ada tedto free the said planet wheel support, rom the braking device when theengine is properly running, together with a pawl adapted to engage theratchet teeth on the said planet wheel support to prevent rotationthereof when starting, a pivoted lever carrying said pawl and held byyielding pressure which resists the force exerted for starting but whichresistance, should back-fire occur, is overcome and the said lever isturned on its pivot and allows the said pawl to be disengaged fromtheratchet teeth of the said planet wheel support, Asubstantially ashereinbefore described. i

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM HARDING SCOTT..

Witnesses:

GILBERT FLETCHER Triton, EDWARD GEORGE Davies.

